Shell loading device



Dec. 15, 1964 L. J. KALNY SHELL. LOADING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1961 INVENTOR. LOUIS J. KALNY ATTO RNEYS.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,l6l,lh4 Patented Dec. 15., 1964 3,161,104 SHELL LQADlNG DEVEQE Louis J. Kalny, 2797 Carlos Sh, Alhambra, Calif, as-

signor of one-=third to Lou E. Kalny, douth San Gahriel, and one-third to William V. Zamiara, Covina, Calif.

Filed Euly 14, 1961, filer. No. 124,077

4 Claims. (Cl. 86--1tl) This invention relates to a device for reloading previously used shells or cartridges and, in particular, is directed to a device for manually resizing, replacing the primer of and reloading a spent shell.

When a round of ammunition is fired in a gun, the cartridge or shell generally expands to approximately the diameter of the breech. Unless the shell is compressed or sized to approximately its original diameter before reloading with a primer, powder and shot or bullet, it will be difficulnif not impossible, to insert the loaded shell into the breech.

For many types and sizes of ammunition, it has been found relatively economical to reload spent shells due to the difference in cost of a new round of ammunition and the materials to reload the shell. However, the reloading of shells by an individual user requires that the individual have an apparatus for resizing and reloading the shells. In order for the resizing and reloading to be economical and practical for the individual, the apparatus must be relatively simple and economical as Well as sufficiently effective to produce a satisfactory and safe round of ammunition.

After a spent shell has been resized and a new primer installed, it is essential that the size of the shell be maintained during the loading of the powder and shot or bullet. The loading requires a substantial amount of force to obtain the proper packing and therefore it has been found that the sides of the shell must be prevented from expanding during the packing.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel device for resizing and reloading spent shells which may be operated manually with substantial ease and effectiveness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for the manual resizing and reloading of spent shells wherein the resizing is accomplished by relative axial movement of parts of the device caused by a sharp impact which may be manually effected.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for the manual resizing and reloading of a spent shell wherein the parts accomplishing the resizing also maintain the size of the shell during the loading thereof with powder and shot or bullet.

Another object of this'invention is to provide a relatively compact and easily operated device for manually resizing and reloading spent shells or cartridges.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages of this invention willappear from the following description and the accompanying drawings. a

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation view of the device of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevation view showing the various parts of this device in their relationship before resizing of ashell.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing two of the parts of the device of this invention.

11 for ease of hand-gripping and an internal tapered bore 12. The housing 10 is open on each end and the taper of the bore 12 results in one end 13 of the housing having a larger opening than the other end 14.

A pair of semi-cylindrical half sleeves 15 and 16 are provided which when placed together form a substantially cylindrical bore 17 and an external tapered surface 18. The taper of surface 1% is preferably identical to the taper of bore 12 of the housing 10. The diameter of the bore 17 is equal to or slightly less than the desired diameter of the cartridge or shell, generally designated 19, after resizing.

Each of the semi-cylindrical sleeves 15 and 16 are provided with an external annular groove 20 near the large end of the tapered outer surface 13 for receiving a split ring 21. The ring 21 serves to resiliently maintain the semi-cylindrical sleeves 15 and 16 together in proper relationship to form a radially expandable and collapsible assembly for receiving the shell 19. Although I have illustrated a metallic split ring 21, it is obvious that any convenient means such as a rubber O-ring could be used to maintain the sleeves 15 and 16 in a resilient, radially collapsed relationship.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing Referring now to the drawings, a generally cylindrical.

housing 1% is provided with an external knurled surface In order to resize the shell 19, the shell is inserted in the bore 17 formed by the sleeves 15 and 16 with the closed end 22 of the shell at the larger end 23 of the tapered external surface 13 of the sleeves 15 and 16. Since theshell to be resized has a larger outside diameter than the inside diameter of the bore 17, the sleeves 15 and 16 are radially separated by the shell. The small end 24 of the assembled sleeves 15 and 16 is then axially inserted in the larger open end 13 of the housing It The assembled sleeves 15 and 16 and the shell are then forced axially into the tapered bore 12 of the housing 10 by any convenient means such as gripping the knurled surface 11 of the housing and pounding on the closed end 22 of the shell by hitting same on a solid surface. This relative axial movement between the housing 10 and the sleeves 15 and 16 .causes radial collapsing of the sleeves due to the external taper 18 of the sleeves and the internal tapered bore 12 of the housing thereby forcing the reduction of the diameter of the metallic body portion 25 of the shell as well as the the heavy paper portion 26 of the shot gun shell such as illustrated. Relative axial movement between the shell 19 and the sleeves 15 and 16 during the imposed impacts is prevented by the engagement of the lip portion 27 of the closed end of the shell with the end 23 0f the sleeves. v

I prefer to make the tapers of the surface 18 and the bore 12 relatively small in order to minimize the force necessary to collapse the shell 19, and also in order to cause the sleeves to lock in the housing upon the axial force being applied to the closed end 22 of the shell as described above. Thus, with the shell 19 resized and firmly held within the sleeves 15- and 16 by the housing '19, the removal of the spent primer 28 from the shell is facilitated by providing the knurled surface 11 on the housing for gripping while removing the primer and inserting a new one.

A cap 29 is provided with an internal bore 39 large enough to be inserted over the larger end 23 of the sleeves 1S and 16 when the sleeves are collapsed the proper amount for resizing the shell 19. The cap 29 is also provided with an internal radial flange 31 having a bore 32 therethrough large enough to accommodate a new primer 28 so that the flange 31 may engage the closed end 2.2 of the shell without contacting the primer 28 thereby preventing inadvertent detonation of the primer during loading of the shell. I, also, prefer to make the bore 3lof the 6211729 of a proper depth so that the end 33 of the capwill engage the end 13 of the housing 10 while the flange 31 engages the end 22 of the shell Q When the shell is properly sized by the correct relative axial relationship between the housing and the sleeves and 16.

With the cap 29 positioned over the end of the sleeves 15 and 16 and the end 22 of the shell, the shell may be loaded through the open end 24 of the sleeves 15 and 16 with the proper amount of powder and shot. The rigidity of the total assembly of the housing 10, sleeves 15 and LE, and the cap 29, is sufficient to permit the extreme forces which are required for packing the powder and shot within the shell.

When the reloading is completed, the cap 29 may be removed and the sleeves 15 and 16 are Withdrawn from the housing 10 by an impact against the end 24 of the sleeves which preferably protrudes a short distance beyond the end 1dof the housing 10. This impact may also be accomplished by gripping the housing 10 and merely pounding on the end 24 such as by a manual blow on a solid surface. This impact unlocks the tapered surface 18 from the tapered bore 12 permit-ting removal of the sleeves 15 and 16 from the housing. The shell 19 may then be removed from the sleeves by radially expanding the sleeves against the resilient retention of the split ring 21.

While I have illustrated and described a device of a particular size and configuration adapted to be used on shot gun shells, it is obvious that the device is equally applicable to any type of spent cartridge. Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth or to the details illustrated in the drawings, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for resizing, replacing the primer of and reloading a spent ammunition shell having a closed end and an oversize body portion, the combination of: a generally cylindrical housing having a tapered internal bore, said housing being open on both ends, said tapered bore causing one of said open ends to be larger than the other, a collapsible sleeve assembly comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical half sleeves and means encircling said sleeves for resiliently holding said sleeves together, said sleeve assembly having a cylindrical bore with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shell properly sized, said sleeve assembly having an external surface tapered for mating with and substantially equal in taper to said housing tapered bore, whereby the spent shell is positioned within said cylindrical bore of said sleeve assembly which is in turn inserted axially into the larger end of said housing with force to cause radial collapsing of said sleeve assembly to resize the shell, and a cap having an internal bore on one end for receiving the end of said sleeve assembly supporting the closed end of the shell, said cap having means for engaging the closed end of the shell for preventing detonation of the shell upon engagement with said cap.

2. In a device for resizing, replacing the primer of and reloading a spent ammunition shell having a closed end and an oversize body portion, the combination of: a generally cylindrical housing having a tapered internal bore, said housing being open on both ends, said tapered bore causing one of said open ends to be larger than the other, a collapsible sleeve assembly comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical half sleeves and means encircling said sleeves for resiliently holding said sleeves together, said sleeve assembly having a cylindrical bore with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shell properly sized, said sleeve assembly having an external surface tapered for mating with and substantially equal in taper to said housing tapered bore, whereby the spent shell is positioned within said cylindrical bore of said sleeve assembly which is in turn inserted axially into the larger end or" said housing with force to cause radial collapsing of said sleeve assembly to resize the shell, and a cap having an internal bore on one end for receiving the end of said sleeve assembly supporting the closed end of the shell, said cap having an internal flange for engaging the closed end of the shell with a bore in said flange for receiving the primer of the shell for preventing detonation of the shell upon engagement with said cap.

3. In a device for resizing, replacing the primer of and reloading a spent ammunition shell having a closed end and an oversize body portion, the combination of: a generally cylindrical housing having a tapered internal bore, said housin being open on both ends, said tapered bore causing one of said open ends to be larger than the other, a collapsible sleeve assembly comprising a pair of semicylindrical halt sleeves and means encircling said sleeves for resiliently holding said sleeves together, said sleeve assembly having a cylindrical bore with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shell properly sized, said sleeve assembly having an external surface tapered for mating with and substantially equal in taper to said housing tapered bore, whereby the spent shell is positioned within said cylindrical bore of said sleeve assembly which is in turn inserted axially into the larger end of said housing with force to cause radial collapsing of said sleeve assembly to resize the shell, and a cap having an internal bore on one end for receiving the end of said sleeve assembly supporting the closed end of the shell, said end of said cap engaging the larger end of said housing, said cap having an internal flange for engaging the closed end of the shell with a bore in said flange for receiving the primer of the shell for preventing detonation of the shell upon engagement with said cap.

4. In a device for resizing, replacing the primer of and reloading a spent ammunition shell having an oversize body portion and a closed end with a radial lip, the combination of: a generally cylindrical housing having a tapered internal bore, said housing being open on both ends, said tapered bore causing one of said open ends to be larger than the other, a collapsible sleeve assembly comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical half sleeves and a split ring encircling said sleeves for resiliently holding said sleeves together, said sleeve assembly having two ends and a cylindrical bore with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shell properly sized, said sleeve assembly having an external surface tapered for mating with and substantially equal in taper to said housing tapered bore thereby causing one end of said assembly to be larger than the other, an annular groove in said external surface near said larger end for receiving said split ring; whereby the spent shell is positioned within said cylindrical bore of said sleeve assembly With the closed end of the shell adjacent the said larger end of the assembly and the radial lip engaging said end, and the smaller end of the said assembly is inserted axially into the larger end of said housing with force to cause radial collapsing of said sleeve assembly to resize the shell; and a cap having an internal bore on one end for receiving the larger end of said sleeve assembly and the end of said cap engaging the larger end of said housing, said cap having an internal flange for engaging the closed end of the shell with a bore in said flange for receiving the primer of the shell for preventing detonation of the shell upon engagement with said cap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Sept. 13, 1950 

4. IN A DEVICE FOR RESIZING, REPLACING THE PRIMER OF AND RELOADING A SPENT AMMUNITION SHELL HAVING AN OVERSIZE BODY PORTION AND A CLOSED END WITH A RADIAL LIP, THE COMBINATION OF: A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING HAVING A TAPERED INTERNAL BORE, SAID HOUSING BEING OPEN ON BOTH ENDS, SAID TAPERED BORE CAUSING ONE OF SAID OPEN ENDS TO BE LARGER THAN THE OTHER, A COLLAPSIBLE SLEEVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OF SEMI-CYLINDRICAL HALF SLEEVES AND A SPLIT RING ENCIRCLING SAID SLEEVES FOR RESILIENTLY HOLDING SAID SLEEVES TOGETHER, SAID SLEEVE ASSEMBLY HAVING TWO ENDS AND A CYLINDRICAL BORE WITH A DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF THE SHELL PROPERLY SIZED, SAID SLEEVE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN EXTERNAL SURFACE TAPERED FOR MATING WITH AND SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN TAPER TO SAID HOUSING TAPERED BORE THEREBY CAUSING ONE END OF SAID ASSEMBLY TO BE LARGER THAN THE OTHER, AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN SAID EXTERNAL SURFACE NEAR SAID LARGER END FOR RECEIVING 